Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. - James 5:7-8 LSB
Many Christians believe that Christ’s return draws near. According to the prophecies found in the Scriptures, they are correct. But what does that mean for us? How should we live, with Christ’s return being so close?
The answer is simple.
Read His word and live in submission to it (Psalm 119:11). His word tells us to love Him first and foremost, and to love people on His behalf (Matthew 22:37-39). His word tells us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and grace (Colossians 4:6), and that our light is not given to us to be hidden (Matthew 5:16), it is to be shown so that others too might come to see the truth and salvation in Christ (2 Timothy 2:24-26). His word tells us to make disciples and that is what we should be doing (Titus 2:1-5)! Take a sister in Christ who is younger than you spiritually speaking and help her to grow in her knowledge and love of her Lord, help her understand how to live her faith and keep her eyes on Him in all things (Hebrews 12:2). The Scriptures tell us that sanctification is God’s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and that it should be pursued (Hebrews 12:14). Oh, there is so much more I could mention!
Do you know what the Scriptures do not say? The Scriptures to not tell us to become fearmongers. They do not tell us to share every apocalyptic article and video we come across. They do not tell us to become crippled by fear (John 14:27). They do not tell us hide in a convent of “Christians only” and pretend the lost world around us isn’t in hopeless (1 Corinthians 5:9-10, Ephesians 2:12) and in desperate need for the gospel that can save their souls (Acts 4:12). The Scriptures do not tell us to become cold, numb, bitter, or hardhearted (Colossians 3:12-17, 1 Peter 3:8-9).
In all honesty, you should be living a life that is pleasing to Christ, no matter how near or far His return is. Even if He does delay, your life is but a vapor (James 4:14) and you will give an account for how you spent or wasted it. Your life is a gift intended to give Him glory, are you using it wisely? Are you keeping in step with His Spirit? Are you living in humble submission to His word? Time is precious, sister, and the Scriptures warn us that the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). We must be diligent to seek to live in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. - 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 LSB
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- John 4:34 LSB
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- 2 Timothy 4:5 LSB
The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. - Luke 12:42-43 CSB
So, to answer the question: How should you be living your life if Christ’s return draws near?
The same way that you should have been living all along.
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